A 29-year-old Barnesville man was arrested last night in connection with a hit-and-run death in Tamaqua last year.

Tamaqua police said Charles L. Earley was arrested at his home at 8:15 p.m. in connection with the death of Terry Ann Slifer, 16, of Hometown, who was killed May 27, 1985, while riding her bicycle at the base of the Hometown Hill. Police had been investigating the incident for a year.

Earley was being arraigned late last night before District Justice Suzanne Lobichusky of Mahanoy City. Police said Earley was being charged with homicide by motor vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, accidents involving death or personal injury, reckless driving, driving on roadway's lane for traffic and following too closely.

Police said Earley was arrested as a result of new information developed during conversations with the Schuylkill County district attorney's office.

Assisting Tamaqua police with the arrest were Ryan Township police and state police at Frackville.Following the arrest, Earley was taken to police headquarters, where he was processed before being taken to Mahanoy City.

Police said Slifer's bicycle was struck from the rear and her body was found 92 feet north of where police believe she was hit. Police said an autopsy at Pottsville Hospital showed she died of a broken neck.

Following Slifer's death, police received and investigated a number of leads in their attempts to find the driver of the car that struck Slifer's bicycle.